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October 15, 2018

How to Deal With Conflict in the Workplace

Conflict in the workplace is always tricky. At its worst, it can practically ruin careers, and even minor strife can make going to work every day feel like a serious chore. If you find yourself at odds with a coworker or even a supervisor, here are a few things that might help you work through it.

Communicate

Many workplace conflicts arise from poor communication. A co-worker might misunderstand something you did or said, or they might lack a key piece of information that either one of you might need to do your jobs. Situations like this are always easy to clear up, but you need to communicate to make that happen. Speak to the other person to find out if there is any misunderstanding, and go from there. As long as you both act like professionals and agree to work together to clear up any misconceptions, things will be just fine.

Don’t Get Emotional

Of course, it’s going to be harder to clear the air with someone if either of you gets too emotional. People tend to say and do rash things when they’re upset, but you cannot let this happen at your workplace. That’s the kind of thing that can cost people their jobs and ruin careers. If you or the other person are too upset to talk, take some time to cool off or talk to someone else who can act as a mediator. Once both of you can remain calm, you can address your conflict rationally.

Prevent Conflict Whenever You Can

Conflict can’t always be avoided, but you can address any potential issues before they turn anyone against each other. If you feel that there is a potential conflict between you and another person or between two other coworkers, address it and come up with some solutions before things get ugly.

Pick Your Battles

Even though issues will come up whenever people spend any amount of time with each other, you cannot start fights over every minor disagreement. Some things are worth arguing about, but you would be surprised at how much you can just ignore. If you’re going to spend about 40 hours a week with people, you cannot make enemies out of them simply because of your personalities. As long as neither of you isn’t doing anything that creates a hostile work environment, you can learn to accept and get along with just about anybody.

April 10, 2018

How to Spot & Deal With a Manipulative Leader

In business, leaders are often those who display charisma and enthusiasm. These qualities are crucial in management positions. However, eagerness often hides the more manipulative qualities in a person. Of course, team members are willing to go above and beyond for a manager who boosts their ego. It’s likely hard to spot the difference between true passion and manipulation. Here are some ways to identify and handle a manipulative leader.

Messaging

One of the most concrete ways to notice manipulation from an authority figure is by closely paying attention to their messaging. If it is clear that the deliverance of the message is more important to the leader than the actual message, that is cause for concern. Their energy and delivery should never outshine the importance of what they are trying to get across. Some people walk away from meetings or presentation in awe, likely due to the “awestruck effect” of the display. If you can’t remember the key points of what your leader just shared, their manipulation did its job. Try doing your own research on their presented topics so that you have a well-rounded understanding of the area.

Personal Interactions

Being wary of every encounter with a manipulative leader is key to spotting them. While everyone loves a good compliment, it is one way that devious leaders get you to agree to anything. Professionals often become addicted to approval and seek it out regularly. Manipulative managers are always willing to dish out the kind words but only if you deliver. Supportive leaders coach you through your good and bad times and will compliment your achievements throughout the process. When getting to know your manager, notice if they take the time to appreciate you, even if you don’t deliver.

Problem Solving

A surefire way to pick out a manipulative manager is by observing the problem-solving abilities. Sure, they can put out a fire, professionally, but are they willing to own up to mistakes? Many leaders who have alternative agendas, will avoid facing problems in front of their team. Rather than making it a learning experience for all, they confront problems behind closed doors. A strong leader is not ashamed of mistakes, nor are they afraid to face them head-on. If your manager refuses to address a concern or avoids a challenging topic, follow up with them. Should the situation spiral, it is important to loop in a third party, such as Human Resources.

January 10, 2018

How to Motivate As a Leader During Tough Times

In a professional environment, leaders are often faced with various challenges. Sometimes such difficulties are overcome quickly, while others can take a few months to conquer. Most businesses face some sort of tough time during their existence. These scenarios can often put the most pressure and weight on those in leadership roles. Teams are relying on their managers and superiors to guide them through such hardships and that can take a toll on a person. When in a leadership role, it is crucial to set the tone for your group and do your best to keep them on track. Here are some tips for keeping spirits high, even during a tough span of time.

Transparency

One of the most important qualities a leader can have during rough patches is transparency. Although there may be information that remains within management, being as open and honest with your team as possible give them optimism. Often, people need reassurance through multiple channels. If you can provide them with what they want or need to hear right away, it could alleviate some of the stress and nerves. Being candid can save you from a harder conversation down the line, should things take an unexpected turn.

Remain Positive

One of the worst things a leader can do during a tough time is panic or cause panic. Sometimes, you don’t realize that you are creating such an environment for your team. When you act in a manner different than usual it could result in a trickle-down effect. You might be getting brutal treatment or words from your superiors. However, don’t take the same actions towards your team. Being a leader includes directing your team on how to present themselves. If you are acting out and being demanding, they will likely lose respect and continue to worry.

Importance of Roles

Even when times are not hard, it is so vital to remind employees of their value to the over company. From the most entry-level to upper management, everyone has a role that makes the business thrive, and they need to know it. If there is room for movement within departments, take advantage. It can help to keep people motivated if they are able to take on new responsibilities. If you see someone not fulfilling their duties to the best of their abilities, have an open discussion and find out what they are feeling. Making your team aware of their worth and keeping moral as high as possible should be of the utmost importance to you as a leader.

April 1, 2017

Leading Younger, Junior Employees to Excel

March 24, 2017

Leadership Tips From CEO’s

No company is as good as its leadership. In order to steer your team in a productive, efficient direction, proper leadership qualities must become habitual. As a leader, this process means finding a comfortable equilibrium between employee happiness and workplace initiative. The key is finding ideas that can stand the test of time while upholding a constructive purpose.

However, since the basics of leadership tend to be obvious and broad, it can be hard to think outside the box for new ideas. Here are a list of leadership tips you may have missed–taken from some of the business world’s top CEO’s.

Transparency is vital

From JPMorgan Chase CEO and chairman, Jamie Dimon

By maintaining a transparent workplace for your employees, you will subsequently instill a culture of strong trust and mutual understanding. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon recommends sharing information such as financial performance and strategy as much as possible–doing so will prevent your employees from thinking you are hiding information from them.

Assign a theme to each work day

From Square CEO and Twitter chairman, Jack Dorsey

While balancing responsibilities from two separate leadership roles, Square CEO Jack Dorsey likes to assign themes to his work days, devoting each day to a different type of work. By adopting this philosophy, you may be able to strengthen your prioritization skills while making a habit out of mental compartmentalization–a skill that is bound to serve you well in other aspects of your role as a leader.

Be willing to redefine everything

From Alibaba CEO, Daniel Zhang

Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang likes to compare workplace redefinition to the advent of the iPhone. “That’s one of my favorite examples of how a single innovation can change everything,” he told Fast Company. “The future isn’t invented by analyzing the past. Leaders have to be fearless in questioning what we think we know.”

Zhang’s analogy is spot-on when applied to the daily decisions that come with a leadership role. Quality leaders are more than just bosses and rule-setters; they are the spearheads that are expected to absorb new problems, even those that feel newfangled and uncomfortable, and diffuse them so that they can be managed and applied to the company or initiative’s best interests.

Plan far ahead

From Nissan CEO, Carlos Ghosn

This tip seems like a no-brainer for leaders, but proper leadership comes with an important moral: no amount of planning is too extreme or bloated. Take Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, who has been known to plan for work as far as 15 months in advance. This practice can be adopted gradually, but its positive impact will surely be felt by both you and your employees when there may not be time to plan in advance.

Try avoiding work during flights

From former Evernote CEO, Phil Libin

During his time as Evernote’s CEO, Phil Libin would use flying as a chance to catch up on lingering work. However, in an interview with PC Magazine, he revealed that he eventually stopped this habit altogether, opting instead to watch movies, play video games, and rest. As a result, he found himself exiting planes feeling refreshed and relaxed.This story could serve as an extension to a key rule of thumb for any worker: take breaks.

Take time to do something mindless–you might see progress in your work life as a result. Being a leader does not necessarily mean you have to live a no-fun life. The best leaders are able to keep a healthy balance of fun and work.

March 22, 2017

3 Ways to Recognize Millennial Leaders in the Workplace

February 15, 2017

3 Ways to Recognize Millennial Leaders in the Workplace

Members of the Millennial Generation are coming of age, joining the workforce and preparing to lead our society as we continue make progress in the 21st century. Millennials have entered corporate America at a great disadvantage in terms of economic adversity, diminished prosperity and political dissonance; thus far, however, they are holding their own.

The time has come to recognize Millennial leadership, and there is a lot to like in this regard. Millennials tend to embrace technology and diversity. They are also connected and in touch with social issues; they seek validation in relation to their opinions and are resourceful for the most part. Millennials enjoy lifelong learning processes and feel very comfortable working in teams.

Here are three observations that business owners and executives can apply for the purpose of recognizing future Millennial leaders:

1 – Spotting Quiet and Natural Born Leaders

Quiet and unassuming leaders have emerged throughout history mostly because their peers have sought their leadership. One of the keys to recognizing these quiet leaders is by taking into account their small accomplishments, which tend to be numerous. Another trait of these leaders is that they listen and read more than others; in the case of Millennials, who are known to be chatterboxes on social media, quiet leaders mostly take time to read updates and act upon them as necessary.

2 – Intelligent Feedback

For the most part, Millennials are not afraid of voicing their opinions on just about everything; this is part of their social process. For this reason, employers should provide their Millennial staff with tools such as Slack and Microsoft Teams, which combine the best of corporate communications with project management and social media features. Reviewing the feedback and messaging threads on these tools can help employers spot budding leaders by focusing on team members who provide constructive criticism, respond to every interaction, analyze with intent, and give praise when it is wise to do so.

3 – Assimilation of Corporate Culture

The norms and expectations of a business enterprise define its culture. Observing how Millennials navigate corporate culture can provide a glimpse into their leadership potential. Employees who seem to embrace corporate culture should be encouraged to participate in planning and operational meetings where they are invited to provide their personal input. If their ideas are in line with company culture, they may be ready to take on a more prominent business role with greater responsibilities.

January 20, 2017

5 Key Tips for Introverts In Leadership Positions

January 20, 2017

3 Ways to Recognize Millennial Leaders in the Workplace

January 18, 2017

5 Key Tips for Introverts In Leadership Positions

Our society has a habit of coveting and catering to the extrovert, leaving the introvert to feel less capable. But the truth is, some of the best thinkers throughout history were introverts. Introverts can be highly effective leaders. The reason introverts often feel they can’t lead is because some of the tips given for leadership don’t cater to them. Here are a few leadership tips for introverts:

1) Tell Your Team What to Expect

While introversion can be a positive quality in a leader, not all employees are used to it. It’s a good idea to let your team members know directly if you are going to do things differently than what they are used to. For example, if you don’t like having meetings as frequently as your team previously did, let your employees know that that’s how the team will be operating. Explain why you think it would be beneficial for you to spend more time on individual work. Let your employees know they can come to you with questions or concerns at any time.

2) Prepare For Meetings

Even if you intend to have fewer meetings that other leaders held, you’ll still want to have a few. If you aren’t prepared for these meetings, you can get overwhelmed and as a result communicate in a way that is not very effective. In order to make the meetings as productive as possible, get ready for the meetings before hard. Write down some thoughts or prepare an agenda. You can even create a presentation to help you stay on task.

3) Have One-on-One Meetings With Employees

If you don’t like having frequent team meetings, make sure you schedule one-on-one meetings with each member of your team. This is a beneficial way for introverted leaders to have effective communication with employees. This will allow you to get input from everyone on your team instead of just from the people who are likely to talk in meetings.

4) Listen First and Talk Second

One of the best leadership qualities associated with being an introvert is being a good listener. Too many people in the business world speak without listening, so introverts have a leg up on the competition in this regard. If you want to be viewed as a respected leader, put those listening skills to use. Actively listen to your employees, your coworkers and your clients. After processing what they have told you, provide guidance and answers that you feel will keep the company moving in the right direction.

5) Notice Your Employees’ Strengths

Chances are you’re not the only introvert on the team. You don’t want your employees to overlook your strengths, so make sure you don’t overlook the strengths of some of your employees who may be wary to socialize or share their thoughts. When you take the time to recognize the strengths of each team member, you will be more able to give them the right tasks. When you assign people the tasks they’ll do best, the company will be able to make more progress.

Being an introvert in the workplace can be tough, and it can be even more difficult when you’re in a leadership position. Don’t ever feel that your introversion makes you an incapable leader. If you follow the steps on this list, you’ll be able to lead your team to success.

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